| Medical Sociology and Old Age: Towards a Sociology of Health in Later Life Contributor(s): Higgs, Paul (Author), Rees Jones, Ian (Author) |
|
 |
ISBN: 0415398606 ISBN-13: 9780415398602 Publisher: Routledge OUR PRICE: $52.20 Product Type: Paperback - Other Formats Published: October 2008 Annotation: Trajectories of chronic illness, biotechnology, social inequality and the restructuring of health care all demonstrate the relevance and importance of health for understanding social change. This book reflects on how our understanding and experience of health, at later ages in particular, can impact on social and technological developments. By integrating the perspectives of medical sociology, with its focus on the failing body, chronic illness, infirmity and mortality, and social gerontology, and by emphasizing the epidemiology of old age and health policy, Higgs and Jones break new ground in the study of ageing. They discuss the key issue of dependency versus success ageing and examine the prospect of a new sociology ??? a sociology of health in later life. This book will be essential reading for all students and researchers of medical sociology and gerontology. |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Medical | Geriatrics - Health & Fitness - Medical | Health Care Delivery |
| Dewey: 362.198 |
| LCCN: 2008018379 |
| Series: Critical Studies in Health and Society |
| Physical Information: 0.4" H x 5.4" W x 8.2" (0.45 lbs) 160 pages |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: The nature of health in later life has conventionally been studied from two perspectives. Medical sociologists have focused on the failing body, chronic illness, infirmity and mortality, while social gerontologists on the other hand have focused on the epidemiology of old age and health and social policy. By examining these perspectives, Higgs and Jones show how both standpoints have a restricted sense of contemporary ageing which has prevented an understanding of the way in which health in later life has changed. In the book, the authors point out that the current debates on longevity and disability are being transformed by the emergence of a fitter and healthier older population. This third age - where fitness and participation are valorised - leads to the increasing salience of issues such as bodily control, age-denial and anti-ageing medicine. By discussing the key issue of old age versus ageing, the authors examine the prospect of a new sociology - a sociology of health in later life. Medical Sociology and Old Age is essential reading for all students and researchers of medical sociology and gerontology and for anyone concerned with the challenge of ageing populations in the twenty-first century. This book is essential reading for all students and researchers of medical sociology and gerontology. |